In a land east of the Poles
Vikings from Sweden
would discover a people
to be known as Slavonics
in a place the Vikings
would name Russ.
Russians
were made up of three
separate peoples
each with their own
language and culture.
Tartars
were among the many ethnic tribes
that overpowered and subjugated
the Russians - vulnerable
because they chose to confront
their enemy with a divided force,
each providing a separate defense
rather than a united whole.
rule of the steppes:
land belongs to you
so long as you fight
to keep it and win
Russia
a parade of conquerors
over the centuries
dispense their various ways,
leaving behind them their own
brand of royal flourishes and
peasant scars.
What a relief with the day
that Russians found a ruler
who was truly one among them -
a leader to unite us all.
Long Live the Tsar!
Imperial Russia
expands as its own power grows
first west into Poland
then south to Persia
and sweeping east through
Siberia all the way to
the Bering Sea.
Russia's disastrous loss to Germany
in World War I further scandalized
Tsarist rule and the general population
rose up to overthrow the
incompetent Romanov dynasty.
A fragile parliamentary democracy
formed to replace the Tsar.
Strength of purpose
contributed to Bolshevik success
in overturning western-style democracy
and replacing it with the Soviet Union -
a Communist government based
on the teachings of Marx
and the leadership of Lenin.
Karl Marx
PHILOSOPHER
universal brotherhood
everyone works for
the betterment of all
Josef Stalin
MAN of STEEL
takes power upon Lenin's death.
We all love the teachings of Marx
but Sunday School is out.
Our workers' paradise will first
require busting some heads
along the way.
Stalin gave most everyone
reason to fear him as he
jealously protected the
absolute extent of his power.
Stalin's inner circle had good reason
to want him dead. His suspicions
had murderous consequences.
Any sign indicating you're a
threat to Stalin results in your
arrest and probable execution.
Your family shares your fate
unless, of course,
you sign a confession of guilt.
Millions of Russians disappeared
following their arrest for treason
on what may be no more
than an accusation from a
malicious someone wanting
you out of the way.
domestic tumult from nearby Germany
and saw an opportunity to strike
his most hated foe.
Stalin's worst nightmare materialized
as a three million man army collected
up against the Russian border.
There was no peaceful explanation
for this concentration of power and
Stalin wasn't ready. It would take
at least another year of building
before the Soviet army could
hope to halt a German assault on
Moscow, destroying the globe's
one effort at a communist society.
______________________
love
dad
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